Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison

OAKLAND — Quentel Reed was sentenced today to fifteen years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Reed pleaded guilty on November 1, 2012, to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to the plea agreement, Reed admitted that on February 9, 2012, he knowingly possessed approximately 59 grams of cocaine base on his person, packaged for distribution as more than 75 individually wrapped rocks. Mr. Reed also admitted that, in furtherance of his drug trafficking, he was carrying a 9mm firearm fitted with a large capacity magazine and loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition.

Reed, 31, of Oakland, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 8, 2012. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to filed court documents, Reed was arrested after leading Oakland Police Officers on a foot pursuit through the neighborhood near McClymonds High School in Oakland. As Oakland Police Officers approached Reed standing on the street, he discarded a bag containing the drugs and ran from the officers. During the chase, Reed attempted to get rid of the gun by throwing it over a fence into a vacant lot.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

This case was part of Operation Gideon and an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oakland Police Department. Operation Gideon, undertaken by federal law enforcement authorities in 2012 to help combat street crime in Oakland and neighboring cities, has resulted in the federal conviction of more than 60 defendants in the Northern District of California.